3) Prinzmetal’s variant angina
It is a rare condition and, contrary to the stable and unstable types of angina, Prinzmetal’s angina is not caused by atherosclerosis as a primary pathology. Instead, it is triggered by the “spasm” of coronary arteries that will suddenly cause a drop of blood supply to the heart. Attacks are acute and unpredictable. Triggers of this spasm include:
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- Smoking
- Cold exposure
- Emotional stress
- Cocaine use
- Other medications
They may also be triggered without a specific cause. Prinzmetal’s angina can occur in healthy or diseased coronary arteries by atherosclerosis, and is commonly associated with other conditions related to the spasm of other arteries in the body, as in the case of migraine headaches -where spasm of arteries in the brain is the leading cause- and Reynaud’s phenomenon (excessive spasm of your fingers’ arteries leading to a bluish discoloration and pain, more common in response to cold temperatures). Since both migraines and Reynaud’s are more common among females, Prinzmetal’s angina has a higher prevalence among females. The condition has a better outcome than unstable angina and is manageable by medications.
